Here’s a summary of our Women’s Insulated Jackets, conducted by Krista Crabtree.
Columbia Sportswear Powerfly
The Columbia Powerfly is a packable non-hooded 800-fill down jacket with a rain-repellent exterior and a heat-reflective interior. If you get cold easy and could use extra body-heat retaining technology along with 800-fill down and want it with a non-bulky and slenderizing fit with some comfort features, then the Columbia Powerfly is for you. It’s not as lightweight or compressible as some, but at $220, it’s a solid, warm jacket and a good value. Retail Price: $220. Gear Institute Rating: 87
To read the full report, check out our Women’s Insulated Jackets Test.
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer
If you are looking for a highly compressible down jacket with incredible warmth-to-weight ratio, then the Ghost Whisperer is for you. What it sheds for weight (burly zippers and inside pockets), it makes up for with high mobility, a snug fit and an airy, yet warm feel. An ultra light weight, super warm hooded down jacket with 850-fill water repellent down and ripstop nylon fabric. Retail Price: $320. Gear Institute Rating: 90
To read the full report, check out our Women’s Insulated Jackets Test.
Arc’teryx Cerium LT
A stand alone hooded jacket for dry climates or an insulating mid layer, the Cerium LT combines 850-fill down in the core and sleeves with hydrophobic synthetic Coreloft insulation in the hem, collar and under the arm. If you’re going to be skinning or hiking—and therefore sweating—in the dry, cold mountain air, than the Arc’teryx Cerium LT should be in your closet. The combination of synthetic down (which stays drier than down) and high-loft down combines the best qualities of these insulations in this light and compressible hooded jacket. Retail Price: $350. Gear Institute Rating: 86
To read the full report, check out our Women’s Insulated Jackets Test.
Montbell Frost Smoke Parka
The Montbell Frost Smoke Parka feels like a mountaineering jacket in a small, light package and could save your ass in extreme alpine conditions. So if you are looking for a warm down jacket with a unisex cut (read: not fitted) with some wind protection and extra durability in high-wear areas, meet your new parka. A winter weight 800-fill hooded down jacket made for alpine conditions with a combo of wind-shedding nylon and more durable nylon in high-wear areas. Retail Price: $189. Gear Institute Rating: 89
To read the full report, check out our Women’s Insulated Jackets Test.
Patagonia Hi-loft Down Sweater Hoody
The Hi-loft Down Sweater Hoody is a hooded winter-weight down jacket with 800-fill down. The exterior is 100 percent recycled polyester ripstop shell with a DWR water repellent fabric finish. The 800-fill Patagonia Hi-loft Down Sweater Hoody works really well as a multi-use winter jacket for moderately cold and relatively dry climates (read: the Rockies) or a layering piece in the east or northeast. It’s warm and compressible and has a number of useful features such as adjustable hem and hood, a stash pocket and DWR fabric finish. Retail Price: $299. Gear Institute Rating: 88
To read the full report, check out our Women’s Insulated Jackets Test.
Marmot Jena Jacket
The Jena Jacket is a mid-winter 800-fill down jacket with water resistant ripstop fabric, able to stand alone for mild winter weather or layer under a storm shell. If you are looking for a straight-forward down jacket to keep in your avy pack as your main insulation layer under a storm shell or as a stand alone down jacket for mostly dry days in the thirties, this is your pick. It’s not bulky (doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles or a hood) and layers easily. Retail Price: $200. Gear Institute Rating: 87
To read the full report, check out our Women’s Insulated Jackets Test.
Sierra Designs Super Stratus Jacket
If you’re looking for a fitted down jacket for mostly resort skiing that can stand alone or be paired under a storm shell for average winter temps, the Super Stratus is for you. It has an attractive, fitted silhouette and cool features, and 160 grams of down treated with hydrophobic finish. This 800-fill winter-weight hooded down jacket from SD is for winter activities or casual wear, with a water-resistant finish on each plume of down. Retail Price: $279. Gear Institute Rating: 85
To read the full report, check out our Women’s Insulated Jackets Test.
